Ireland.

This publication offers a political and economic forecast for Ireland for 2008-2009. Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen is said to be facing daunting economic and diplomatic challenges over the outlook period. The country's relations with the European Union (EU) has become strained with the rejection of the EU's Lisbon treaty by Irish voters in June 2008. The Irish economy is expected to contract because of the ongoing downturn in the property sector and stagnant private consumption in 2008.